Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, left, from Nevada, talks with a journalist as the elevator doors close as he departs the Capitol after a vote about the fiscal cliff, on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 in Washington. The Senate passed legislation early New Year's Day to neutralize a fiscal cliff combination of across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts that kicked in at midnight. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON -- Legislation to block the "fiscal cliff" is headed to the White House for President Barack Obama's signature.

The bill will avoid, for now, the major tax increases and government spending cuts that had been scheduled to take effect with the new year.

Final approval came in the House on New Year's Night. The vote was 257 to 167.

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The Senate passed the bill less than 24 hours earlier.

The measure raises tax rates on incomes over $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for couples, a victory for Obama.

It also extends expiring unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless, prevents a cut in fees for doctors who treat Medicare patients and cancels a $900 pay increase due to lawmakers in March.

Another provision is designed to prevent a spike in milk prices.

Paul Tonko, a Democrat whose district includes Saratoga Springs as of Tuesday, and Republican Chris Gibson, whose district no longer includes Saratoga County, were both among those U.S. representatives who voted Tuesday night on the bipartisan bill to avert the so-called fiscal cliff.

"The bipartisan fiscal cliff agreement is not perfect. Indeed, it is far from it. But it is the right thing to do and is necessary to ensure taxes do not go up on hard-working middle- class families. It ensures more fairness and equality in the tax code while extending pro-growth, pro-business and pro-jobs policies," Paul Tonko said in a statement released Tuesday night."However, I am deeply troubled by the process and brinksmanship leading up to this point. In a few short weeks, our nation will again be tasked with raising the debt ceiling and dealing with massive spending cuts. The American people expect Congress to work together, meet deadlines and compromise. I hope that will be the case as we enter a new year and a new session of Congress," Tonko said.

Gibson expressed mixed sentiments as well in a statement also released Tuesday night.

"Early Tuesday morning, the Senate passed legislation by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 89-8 that will make permanent the lower tax rates of the Bush era. I support this bill and voted 'yes,' as it provides much needed tax relief for over 99 percent of my constituents. Making these tax cuts permanent was one of my major goals when I first ran for Congress," Gibson said.

"I'm relieved that nearly all of my constituents will be protected from tax increases. Unfortunately, we did not get the major agreement necessary to stabilize the deficit. We need to pick up the pace to achieve necessary long-term deficit reduction or we will decline as an economic power and take with it the hopes and dreams of future generations," Gibson said.

"In my view, the Cooper-LaTourette Budget, inspired by the President's Deficit Reduction Commission ("Simpson-Bowles"), provides the framework to begin the negotiations. The Cooper-LaTourette proposal reduces the deficit by $4 trillion through comprehensive pro-growth tax reform, structural changes and spending reductions both parties can support. As we move forward, we don't need a new study, new commission or new Joint Select Committee to get things started -- we should utilize the Simpson-Bowles report, modified by Cooper-LaTourette to attract more bipartisan support, to forge the major agreement necessary," Gibson said.